South Polar Skua

Identification

Scarce migrant seabird found offshore; unlikely to be seen from land. Overall rather plain, dark gray-brown, suggesting a muscular immature gull but with big white wing flashes, like the smaller, more lightly built jaegers. Usually seen as single birds, flying directly and strongly low to high above the sea, or resting on the sea, often with rafts of shearwaters. Chases large shearwaters and even boobies, forcing them to regurgitate their food.